While we’re all stuck at home and online, reliable sources report a sharp spike in bank fraud, scam calls, emails and websites–and we’re seeing it with clients, too. One banker said:
“People will be at home, receiving phone calls and texts from people who claim to be their banks, asking them about cancelled events and travel plans and offering refunds. Fraud can only go up under these kinds of circumstances”
Please BE CAREFUL out there. Remember: the more urgently you are being asked to act, the more cautious you should be in response.
Some comfort
As bleak as things feel right now, imagine how much worse they’d be if we didn’t have the Internet to keep us informed and connected! Many of us are discovering the joys of free Zoom video calls. If you’re new to Zoom, we have just posted intro videos on using Zoom from a computer or from an iPhone/iPad to help you get started.
(Also popular is Houseparty, which gives you video chat and online gaming, but that’s mostly younger folk; and for work/school, Google just announced free access to some advanced features of Hangouts for Apps users).
>>> Caution: apps like this typically request access to your contact list;
that’s a serious privacy risk, and I wouldn’t recommend it. <<<
Dribbles of Announcements from Apple
Apple announced a few new products of note (but still no new phone):
A new Macbook Air with a faster processor, better keyboard, more storage and a lower price;
A new iPad Pro, and a new Magic Keyboard to go with it that includes a built in trackpad (part of Apple’s push to make the iPad a true laptop replacement).
No theater, No concerts?
Go old-school:
You can now livestream the Northern Lights.